The Samsung HW-Q700A is a 3.1.2 setup from the manufacturer's 2021 lineup. It has a balanced mid-range that can reproduce clear and accurate vocals and lead instruments. However, it struggles to reproduce the thump and punch in the bass range, so you don't feel the deep rumble in action-packed movie scenes. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, though, and it comes with lots of sound enhancement features, including Samsung's Acoustic Beam virtual surround technology, though we don't test for this.
Our Verdict
The Samsung HW-Q700A is good for mixed usage. It has a pretty balanced mid-range that can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly. However, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy, punchy bass, which can be disappointing if you like bass-heavy music and action-packed movies. It supports Dolby Atmos, though, which is handy for movie fans. However, it has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which isn't as immersive-sounding.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support.
- Doesn't support Chromecast built-in.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is very good for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Thanks to its dedicated center channel and balanced mid-range, voices are reproduced clearly, accurately, and with detail. There's even a dialogue enhancement feature available to help make voices sound more clear and crisp. Also, it's Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatible, so you can stream podcasts and audiobooks from your phone to the bar wirelessly.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Apple AirPlay compatibility.
- Doesn't support Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is good for music. Out-of-the-box, it struggles to reproduce the thump and punch found in bass-heavy genres like EDM. Its balanced mid-range can still reproduce voices and lead instruments pretty clearly, though. Also, there are a lot of sound customization features available, including a graphic EQ, several presets, and bass and treble adjustments.
- Graphic EQ and presets.
- Gets loud.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is decent for movies. Its balanced mid-range can reproduce dialogue clearly and accurately, but it struggles to reproduce low and mid-bass, so you may not feel the deep thump and punch in action-packed scenes. It gets pretty loud, though there's some compression when you play it at max volume. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, but it has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive.
- Gets loud.
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support.
- Lacks low-bass.
Changelog
- Updated May 22, 2024: We've updated Room Correction from 'No' to 'Yes' in Sound Enhancement Features to better align with other Samsung models.
- Updated Apr 30, 2024: We've added a comparison between this soundbar and the Samsung HW-Q700C with SWA-9500S in Surround 5.1.
- Updated Mar 20, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 16, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Samsung HW-Q700A is available in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Samsung HW-Q700A is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated subwoofer. Compared to the Samsung HW-Q800A, it lacks a thumpy, punchy low-bass, which might disappoint fans of bass-heavy music. It comes with lots of sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ and bass and treble adjustments. It also comes with features such as SpaceFit Sound, which is advertised to optimize audio reproduction based on the acoustic characteristics of your room using the microphone on compatible Samsung TVs, and Tap Sound, which mirrors music from your phone when you tap it against the bar, though we don't test for these.
See our recommendations for the best Samsung soundbars, the best soundbars with a subwoofer, and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.
The Samsung HW-Q700A and the Samsung HW-S800B are two 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos setups with different strengths and weaknesses. The Q700A was released in 2021, and it's a bigger bar with more inputs on hand, including Optical and HDMI In. As a result, you can use it for high-quality passthrough, unlike the S800B. However, the S800B's unique slim design is well-suited for smaller spaces, and it comes with more enhancement features, including room correction. It's also able to reproduce a more extended low-bass than the Q700A despite its smaller sub.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q700A or the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a dedicated sub that can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. It supports more wireless playback options, and unlike the Sonos, it has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. That said, the 5.0 Sonos is better built with better surround and soundstage performances
The Samsung HW-Q700A is better than the Polk Audio Signa S4. The Samsung has better soundstage and surround performances, and unlike the Polk, it supports DTS content. There are also more sound enhancement features available, including a graphic EQ.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Samsung HW-Q70R or the Samsung HW-Q700A. The HW-Q70R reproduces a more extended low-bass, meaning you can feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music and action-packed scenes. However, the HW-Q700A offers better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports Apple AirPlay 2. It also comes with an auto-volume mode, unlike the HW-Q70R.
Test Results
